Railway car truck



Jan. 11, 1944. D. M. LIGHT 2,338,857

RAILWAY CAR TRUCK Filed April 19, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l 4 2 56 64Z\[ FIE\\\\'1\1 l 46 Ii m 46 in: 40 m 26 a I a 24 Z5 Z0 'IlIfl/J'Illllj Z k 60 T171511: kbii: I I l Li 1% i INVENTOR Jan. 11, 1944. D. M. LIGHT RAILWAY CAR TRUCK Filed April 19, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR. DQz/Ad 127i g/z Patented Jan. 11, 1944 RAILWAY CAR TRUCK David M. Light, Chicago, 111., assignor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 19, 1941, Serial No. 389,299

27 Claims. (Cl. 105-197) My invention relates to railway car trucks and particularly to a form of four wheel railway car truck of quick wheel change type comprising spaced side frames and a connecting bolster, said bolster being so arranged as to facilitate its removal from the bolster opening of the frame when wheel change is contemplated.

At the present time it is well recognized that a satisfactory ride depends not only upon the character of the springs used but also upon means which may be used in conjunction with the springs to prevent harmonic vibrations. Normally some friction device is used in this capacity. In most friction devices difficulties arise due to the relatively small wearing surfaces or to the inaccessibility of the parts or to the short life which makes their use relatively impractical in a freight car when frequent inspection is not practical.

The general object of my invention is to devise a quick wheel change truck in which a snubbing arrangement may be used in conjunction with a coil spring group in such manner that it will be relatively simple to remove the bolster from the bolster opening of the side frame.

A different object of my invention is to devise a quick wheel change truck as described wherein a plurality of friction devices may be utilized at each end of the bolster so associated therewith in its connection to the side frame that said friction devices facilitate the squaring of the truck, that is, help to hold the bolster in its normal relationship both vertically and laterally with respect to the side frame,

' Expressed in another way, I contemplate the construction of such a truck as that described wherein friction absorbing devices may be used inboard and outboard each frame at opposite sides of each bolster end, so positioned as not to interfere with the assembling or dismantling of the truck parts and yet serving to hold the truck parts in their normal relationship, while at the same timeaifording within reasonable limits any desired amount of frictional absorption which may be required in conjunction with the particular spring group utilized in car trucks of varying capacities.

My novel structure comprehends an arrangement wherein a plurality of friction absorbing devices will be used at opposite sides of each end of the bolster with the friction absorbing devices at each side of the bolster aligned transversely of the truck.

A more specific object of my invention is to devise a novel form of bolster particularly suitable for application to my novel form of car truck and incorporating friction absorbing device pockets in said bolster adjacent the brake hanger brackets on the inboard face of each side frame.

Still another specific object of my invention is to devise a novel form of side frame wherein a combination brake hanger bracket and friction panel may be integrally formed on the inboard face thereof at opposite sides of the bolster opening.

Still another object of my invention is to devise a novel form of spring seat casting incorporating a plurality of pockets or housings for friction absorbing devices arranged to facilitate inspection from'the outboard side of the car truck in which said casting may be utilized.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of a car truck embodying my invention, the section being taken substantially in the transverse vertical plane bisecting the truck as indicated by the line l-l of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the car truck structure shown in Figure 1, only one end of the frame being shown inasmuch as opposite ends of the truck are similar.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the truck structure shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken through the side frame and bolster inboard the truck at a point where a friction absorbing device is applied, said sectional view being taken substantially in vertical longitudinal and diagonal planes indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken through a corner of the spring seat casting in which is mounted a friction device at the outboard side of the truck, said section being taken substantially in the vertical diagonal plane indicated by theline 5-5 of Figure 3.

figure 6 is a further sectional view taken through the friction pocket at the corner of the spring seat casting, said view being taken in the horizontal plane indicated by the line 6-5 of Figure 2.

Describing the structure in detail, my novel car truck contemplates the use of a novel form of truss type side frame, generally designated 2, at each side of the truck, said usual compression member 4 and tension member 6 with columns 8, 8 integrally formed and defining therewith a central bolster opening I0 and a window opening l2 at each side thereof. The tension member 6 below the bolster opening is of box-section having the top chord M, the bottom chord [6, the inboard wall IS, the outboard wall side frame having the thespring seat 28 may be positioned a plurality of coil springs diagrammatically indicated 88, 88,

said sprin s being retained in proper position between said bottom spring plate 82 and a top spring plate 38, each of said plates being formed with inturned flanges serving as positioning means for said springs. The top spring plate 88 may have positioning means in the form of lugs projecting into recesses in the spring seat casting 48 as maybe noted at 48, 42 (Figure 1).-

The form of the spring seat casting 48 is best seen from contemplation of the top plan view of Figure 3 in conjunction with the elevation view in Figure 2 and the sectional viewsof Figures 5 and 6. Said spring seat casting 48 serves 'as a spring late as well as a bolster interlocking member with integral friction device housings 4|, 4| formed at opposite corners of the outboard edge thereof. *Said seat casting 48 has a plurality of upstanding lugs 44', 44 extending into recesses in the bottom wall 48 of the bolster each side of the bolster opening is formed a bracket with a diagonal wall 88 (Figure 3) which is ubstantially continuous with the diagonal wall 82 and the transverse web 82 of the U-section column 8 already referred to. The faces of the diagonal walls 88, 88 at opposite sides of the bolster opening may form friction panels on each of which may be mounted a wear plate 84 for engagement as at 88 (Figure 3) with a wear block or frictionshoe 88 which may be mounted in the pocket. 88 (Figure 6) in the before-mentioned housing 4|.- Each housing 4| is reinforced by a plurality of ribs 82, 82 merging with the horizontal web of the seat casting 48.

The detail of the arrangement of each housing 4| and the friction device therein is shown in Figures 5 and 6. In each pocket 88 may be positioned a resilient pad 84, said pad being compressed between the wear block or shoe 88 and said shoe and pad being retained in position within said pocket 88 by means of a securing rivet 88 extending through the side walls of said pocket and being received in the elongated slot 88 in said wear block in order to permit relative movement therebetween.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the friction shoes will normally be 41, said bolster having a box section with a top wall 48, spaced side walls 88, 88, and a vertical intermediate wall 82 parallel with said side walls (Figure 3). Atop each housing 4| on the casting 48 is formed an upstanding'lug 84 (Figure 2) which may project through the top wall 48 of the bolster end as best seen at 88 (Figure 1) so that said casting is securely positioned between said bolster end and the coil spring group on which it is seated.

At each side of the bolster opening and on the inboard face thereof each side frame is formed with a bracket 58 at the upper extremity of which may be formed the usual brake hanger Jaw 88, said bracket having the vertical diagonal wall 82 (Figure 3) affording a friction surface on which may be mounted the wear plate 84 (Figure 4) for frictional engagement as at .88 with the friction shoe or wear block 68 which is mounted in the pocket 18 diagonally recessed in the side wall of the bolster, said pocket also housing the resilient pad 12 which serves to urge'said friction shoe 88-into engagement with the wear plate 84. To secure said resilient pad 12 and said shoe 88 in assembly with the bolster there may extend therethrough a. rivet 14, said rivet extending through the elongated slot 15 in the shoe .88 in order to permit relative movement therebetween.

The bolster 41 may have the usual side bearing 18 and center bearing 18, and the side walls 58, 58 thereof outboard the pockets I8, 18 may have a parallel relationship so that that portion of the bolster extending outboard of the bolster opening I 8 may have a width no greater than said bolster opening, thus permitting ready application or removal thereof in 'wheel change.

As described, the bolster end is interlocked with the spring seat casting 48 by means of lugs already referred to at 58, 58 and at 44, 44, and the friction shoes engaging the bolster and said casting serve to restrain bouncing movement and reduce vibrations.

On the outboard face of each side frame at mounted in the side walls of the assemblage of the truck parts, likewise'the friction shoe associated with the spring seat cast 1 ing 48 will be assembled in the housings thereof prior to the assemblage of the truck parts. It will be apparent then that the spring group may be mounted on the spring seat of the tension member in the usual manner after which the spring seat casting may be positioned thereon and the bolster end inserted into the bolster opening and engaged with the spring seat casting. As a matter of convenience the friction housings are diagonally arranged so that there is a resultant of forces from the friction device inboard the frames tending to force said frames away from the bolster. This force however is equaled by the resultant. of forces acting in the opposite direction and developed by the friction means outboard the frame so that the resultant of forces a a whole is such as to maintain the bolster end fairly steadily in its normal position in the bolster opening of the side frame.

It is to be'understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation as variou and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a railway car truck, spaced side frames each having a top member, a bottom member, and a plurality of columns merging with said members to define a central bolster opening, spring groups on said bottom members in said openings, bolster interlocking castings seated on said spring groups, a bolster having end portions projecting into said openings and interlocked with said castings, friction surfaces on said frame inboard said openings, friction shoes mounted in said bolster for engagement with said surfaces, friction surfaces mounted on said frames outboard said openings, friction shoes the bolster prior to 2. In a railway car truck, spaced side frames each having a top member, a bottom member, and a plurality of columns merging with said members to define a central bolster opening, spring groups on said bottom members in said openings, bolster interlocking castings seated on said spring groups, a bolster having end portions projecting into said openings and interlocked with said castings, friction surfaces on said frame inboard said openings, friction shoes mounted in said bolster for engagement with said surfaces, friction surfaces mounted on said frames outboard said openings, and friction shoes resiliently supported in said castings in engagement with said last-mentioned friction surfaces.

3. In a railway car truck, spaced side frames each having a top member, a bottom member, and a plurality of columns merging with said members to define a central bolster opening, spring groups on said bottom members in said openings, bolster interlocking castings seated on said spring groups, a bolster having end portions projecting into said openings and interlocked with said castings, diagonally arranged friction surfaces on said frame inboard said openings, friction shoes diagonally mounted in said bolster for engagement with said surfaces, and resilient means urging said shoes into engagement with a said surfaces.

4. In a four wheel railway car truck, a truss side frame having a tension member, a compression member, and spaced columns defining a bolster opening, inboard and outboard brackets on each of said columns affording diagonal friction surfaces, a spring group on said tension member in said opening, a plate seated on said group and interlocked therewith, a bolster end extending into said opening and interlocked with said plate, and friction shoes mounted on said bolster and said plate respectively for engagement with said inboard and outboard surfaces- 5. In a railway car truck, a side frame having top and bottom members and a plurality of columns defining a window opening, a spring group on said bottom member in said opening, inboard and outboard friction surfaces on said columns adjacent said opening, a spring plate interlocking casting supported on said spring group with friction means resiliently mounted thereon and engaging said outboard surfaces, and a bolster end extending into said opening and secured on said interlocking casting with friction means engaging said inboard surfaces.

6. In a railway car truck, spaced side frames 55 each having a top member, a bottom member, and a plurality of columns merging with said members todefine a central bolster opening, spring groups on said bottom members in said openings, bolster interlocking castings seated on said spring groups, abolster having end portions projecting into said openings and interlocked with said castings, friction surfaces on said frame inboard said openings, and friction shoes diagonally and resiliently mounted .in said bolster for engagement with said surfaces.

'7. In a railway car truck, a side frame having tension and compression members and spaced columns defining therewith a bolster opening, resilient means on said frame in said opening, a spring cap on said means, a bolster supported on said cap, friction means resiliently mounted on said bolster for engagement with inboard surfaces on said columns, friction means resiliently mounted on said cap for engagement bolster opening,

with outboard surfaces on said columns, and means interlocking said bolster and cap against relative movement longitudinally and transyersely of the frame while permitting relative vertical movement between said bolster and cap, said interlocking means being of less depth than the distance between the top of said bolster and the compression member thereabove, whereby said bolster may be elevated in said opening and removed therefrom while said spring cap and said resilient means remain in assembled relationship.

8. In a four wheel railway car truck, atruss side frame having a tension member, a compression' member, and spaced columns defining a bolster opening, inboard and outboard brackets on each of said columns affording friction surfaces, a spring group on said tension member in said opening, a spring plate seated on said group and interlocked therewith, a bolster endextendplate, and friction shoes resiliently mounted on said bolster and said plate respectively for engagement with said inboard and outboard surfaces.

9. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising spaced columns and an intervening diagonally arranged friction surfaces on said frame inboard said opening, resilient means on said frame, a bolster end in said opening and supported on said means, friction means diagonally mounted in said bolster end for engagement with said surfaces, and resilient means urging said friction means into engagement with said surfaces.

10. In a railway car truck, a side frame having a plurality of columns defining margins of a bolster opening, a spring group in said opening, a. spring plate seated on said spring group, friction means consisting of a single friction surface outboard each column adjacent said opening, friction shoes supported on said plate for engagement with said surfaces, and resilientmeans urging said shoes into engagement with said sur-- faces.

11. In a spring plate, a. horizontal web portion affording a bottom plane surface for seating on an associated spring group, a top plane surface with positioning means for interlocking with an associated bolster, means on one end of said plate for supporting a plurality of friction shoes, and friction shoes resiliently mounted therein.

12. In a railway car truck, a side frame having a plurality of columns defining margins of a bolster opening, a spring group in said opening, a spring plate seated on said spring group, friction means consisting of a single friction surface outboard each column adjacent said opening, and friction shoes resiliently mounted on said plate for engagement wtih said surfaces,

said surfaces lying respectively in converging planes.

13. In a cast steel bolster of general box section having-an end portion with parallel side walls for projection through the bolster opening of an associated side frame, diagonally arranged pockets in the side walls of said bolster adjacent said end portion, friction shoes in respective pockets, and resilient means compressed between each shoe and the, rear wall of the associated pocket.

' 14. In a spring plate, a horizontal web, friction housings on said web, friction shoes in respective housings, and resilient means between ing into said opening and interlocked with said under compression between said bolster walls and said shoes.

'16. In a railway car truck, spaced side frames with top and bottom members and spaced columns defining a bolster opening, a bolster having end portions secured in said openings respectively, friction panels on said frames inboard said openings, diagonally arranged friction shoes housed in said bolster in engagement with said panels, and resilient means compressed by and between said shoes and said bolster.

17. In a truss side frame, tension and compression members and spaced columns defining a bolster opening, means on said frame supporting diagonally arranged friction surfaces inboard and outboard of each column, a bolster end extending into said opening and supporting diagonally arranged friction shoes in engagement with certain of said surfaces, and resilient means compressed by and between said end and each shoe.

18. In a spring plate, a horizontal web, friction housings mounted on one end of said web, and friction. shoes resiliently supported in said housings.

19. In a spring plate casting, a horizontal web portion, housings integrally formed with said web portion, and friction shoes resiliently mounted in and supported from said housings.

20. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising top and bottom members and spaced columns defining therewith a bolster opening, a bolster end received in said opening, transversely diagonally arranged friction panels on said frame, friction shoes supported by said end in engagement with said panels, and rubber pads under compression between said end and respec tive shoes.

21. In a railway car truck, a side frame having a plurality of columns defining margins of a bolster opening, a spring group in said opening, a spring plate seated on said group, friction means mounted outboard respective columns adjacent said opening, friction means supported on said plate for engagement with said first-mentioned friction means, and resilient means above said group for urging the first and second-mentioned friction means into said engagement.

22. In a railway car truck, a side frame having a plurality of columns defining margins of a bolster opening, a spring group in said opening, a spring plate seated on said group, friction means mounted outboard respective columns adjacent said opening, friction means supported on said plate for engagement with said firstmentioned friction means, and resilient means above said group for urging the first and secondmentioned friction means into said engagement, said spring plate comprising means housing said second-mentioned friction mean and said resilient means. a

23. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising a bolster opening and spaced diagonally arranged friction panels inboard said opening, a

bolster end extending into said opening and comprising diagonally arranged pockets, friction shoes housed in respective pockets and in engagement with respective panels, and resilient means compressed by and between the rear wall of each pocket and the associated shoe.

24. In a railway. car truck, top and bottom members and spaced columns defining therewith a bolster opening and spaced window openings, a. spring group supported on said bottom member in said opening, a springplate seated on said spring group and comprising-friction shoe supporting means, friction panels on the outboard sides of respective columns, and friction shoes resiliently supported by said means in engagement with said friction panels.

25. In a. railway car truck, a side frame comprising a bolster opening and spaced friction panels on a side thereof, bolster supporting resilient means mountedon said frame in said opening, a bolster interlocking member seated on said means and comprising'friction shoe supporting means, friction shoes resiliently supported thereby in engagement with respective panels, and a bolster end seated on and interlocked with said member, said panels being transversely diagonally arranged with respect to said frame.

26. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising a bolster opening and spaced friction panels adjacent thereto, a spring group supported by said frame in said opening, a spring cap thereon comprising friction shoe housings, a bolster end seated on said cap and interlocking therewith and comprising friction shoe housings, friction shoes in said housings in engagement with respective panels and resilient means in said housings in engagement with said shoes and with said bolster end and spring cap respectively.

27. In a railway car truck, a side frame having tension and compression members and spaced columns defining therewith a bolster opening, a spring group on said frame in said opening, a spring cap on said group, a bolster supported on said cap, friction means mounted on said bolster for engagement with inboard friction means on respective columns, friction means mounted on said cap for engagement with outboard friction means on respective columns, and resilient means urging said bolster and spring cap mounted friction means and respective column friction means into frictional engagement.

DAVID M. LIGHT. 

